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Linsly Girls Shuts Down Magnolia on Tennis Court

Snider, Zhu fight back at No. 2 doubles for victory

Linsly’s Lakin Snider reaches high to return the ball over the net in a match against Magnolia on Thursday. Photo by Kyle Lutz

WHEELING — No matter what the score shows, the most important thing an athelete can do is never give up. Lakin Snider and Selina Zhu certainly did not throw in the towel Thursday against Magnolia.

At No. 2 doubles, Snider and Zhu fought back after being down 7-2 against Raegan Hale and Clara Moore to claim the match 9-7. That victory also secured a shutout against the Blue Eagles, 7-0.

“I thought the girls played real well. They gave us all they wanted, obviously at No. 2 doubles,” Linsly coach Dave Riethmiller said. “Those girls were very good up at the net. They caused us a lot of problems there.”

Snider and Zhu did not give up, after facing a huge deficit. With all their eyes on them, they chipped away at the lead and closed the match out to deny a tiebreaker.

“I didn’t think we had our best focus at the beginning of the match,” Riethmiller said. “I think we focused a little bit better and kept the ball away from the net person a little better at the end. They ended up backing off at the net, which kind of made it even terms there. We got focused better and kept it away from the net. “I’m very proud of them for fighting back.”

Snider and Zhu also sported victories at singles. At No. 2, Snider shut down Whitney Yoho 8-0 while Zhu secured a victory over Moore, 8-1.

Rachel Ekanem (No. 1 singles) defeated Bethany Brown, 8-0 while Caitlin Mead captured an 8-1 triumph over Hale.

“Linsly is a hard team. We knew that coming in. We’ve known that for the last four years that we’ve had a team,” Magnolia assistant coach Jesse Robinson said. “We’re a little disappointed that we didn’t win any sets. The second doubles, they kept up. I thought we were going to win, but it was a disappointing ending.”

At No. 1 doubles, Ekanem and Mead took down Brown and Yoho, 8-0 while Emma Augustine and Lily George defeated Audrey Baker and Gloria Hernandez, 8-1 at No. 3 doubles.

“Never quit no matter what the score is,” Riethmiller said about what he can take from the match. “You’re still in the match and have your best focus when you walk out there. Just because you won pretty handily in singles, doesn’t mean the doubles against the same players is going to go the same way. It’s a whole new match. You have to be ready to play and can’t expect an easy match.”

NOTES

On Tuesday, the Linsly girls defeated University, 4-3 to secure the program’s 300th win which started during the 1988-89 school year.

“I’ve been blessed with a lot of good players over the years,” Riethmiller said. “It’s just been a real blessing to be the coach. It’s fun to be the only coach that Linsly girls tennis has had. It’s just been a blessing. I’ve had great girls character-wise and great players. It’s been a nice ride. It really has been.

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